We are four rounds and it is OFFICIALLY THE YEAR OF THE CONCUSSION! A Stats review from the last twelve months showed that over half the games missed due to injury were because of concussions. Check in throughout the week as news comes through to see when your favourite player are due back in the #CasualtyWard ahead of Round 5. Our goal is to get you dominating your mates in Fantasy Footy, when you make it happen, make sure you let EVERYBODY know.
Returned from Injuries in Rd 4:
Sonny Bill Williams (Blues) - Came back from a calf haematoma and showed their might just be life in his game yet. Stephen Perofeta (Blues) – Came off the bench and was a part of the Blues massive comeback, will be interesting to see if they start him this week. Jackson Hemopo (Highlanders) - Concussion in Rd 2, played well. Asafo Aumua (Hurricanes) – Started his first game of the year off the bench getting around 13 minutes. Looked solid but not spectacular. Matt Todd (Crusaders) - Broken thumb. Makes a shock return this week, his thumb is still broken but not causing Todd major distress.
Kurtley Beale (Waratahs) - Rib cartilage injury in Rd 3. Played the Jaguares but will no doubt struggle for the next 4-6 weeks. Angus Cottrell (Rebels) - Nasty cut to the hand that needed stitches in Rd 3. started Rd 4. Richard Hardwick (Rebels) - Came back off the bench from his knee injury, and made a big impact. Marika Koroibete (Rebels) – Came back off the bench from his knee injury, looked sharp. Scott Sio (Brumbies) – Came back from his calf tear and got straight into his work. Lachlan McCaffrey (Brumbies) - Played without issue in a poor performance across the board for the Brumbies. Lolo Fakaosilea (Brumbies) - Didn't make an impact. Tom Cusack (Brumbies) - Recovered from his concussion off the bench this week. Kazuki Himeno (Sunwolves) - Hip injury Rd 2. Played lock for the Sunwolves and didn't have as many involvements as when he played at six. Grant Hattingh (Sunwolves) - Chest injury from Rd 2, started in the 2nd row. Kotaro Matsushima (Sunwolves) - Recovered from his right knee ligament damage, started his first game of the year at fullback and made a few good breaks. Lomano Lemeki (Sunwolves) - Hand injury Rd 2. Killed it on the wing.
JJ Engelbrecht (Stormers) - Injured in Rd 2, on the bench for Rd 4. Damian Willemse (Stormers) - Cleared to play Rd 4 from a really bad quadriceps haematoma. Didn't seem to effect his game. Kwagga Smith (Lions) - Didn't play in round 3 because he was on "compassionate leave". Named on the bench but played 60minutes after Whiteley wen't down with a knee injury. Tomas Lavanini (Jaguares) - Concussion in Rd 2, started.
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New Injuries Rd 4:
Ryan Crotty (Crusaders) - Concussion, will miss Rd 5 this week. Sam Whitelock (Crusaders) - Concussion in Rd 4, was cleared until developing concussion symptoms on Friday. Mike Delany (Crusaders) - Ruled out on Friday the 16th with a knee injury. Alex Hodgman (Blues) - Injured his arm and has been flown home because he "won't be fit for this week". Doesn't sound too bad.. Sione Mafileo takes his place.
Sam Carter (Brumbies) - Concussion against the Rebels from a shoulder to the head. Josh Mann-Rea (Brumbies) - Severe left hamstring injury, expected to be out for a minimum of six weeks, likely more. Jake Gordon (Waratahs) - Ruled out with concussion. Jordan Uelese (Rebels) - Minor hamstring injury. Angus Cottrell (Rebels) - Misses this week with the flu. Yusuke Niwai (Sunwolves) - Came off for a head injury assessment and did not return. Assumed concussion.
SP Marais (Stormers) - Picked up a rib injury last week. Won't play the Blues or Reds but should be back after that. Chris Van Zyl (Stormers) - Concussion against the Highlanders. Still being monitored and doesn't look likely to play. Warren Whiteley (Lions) - Left knee Grade 2 PCL injury. Expected to be out for a month which could put him out until after their Rd 9 bye . Nicholas De Jager (Bulls) - Fractured rib - should be out for four to six weeks. Tim Agaba takes his place in the side. Jason Jenkins (Bulls) - Being monitored for his reoccurring shoulder niggle. Louis Schreuder (Sharks) - Had ice on his calf after being subbed late in the game. There was no incident to explain the injury though. I assume he will be fine at this stage. Tomás Lezana (Jaguares) - UPDATE 9th March they announced he was having an operation that would keep him out for two months.
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Likely back for this week (Rd 5):
Brodie Retallick (Chiefs) - Finger in the eye during training so got pulled from the game late. Fully fit and will play this week. Marty Mckenzie (Chiefs) - Concussion, missed Rd 3. Should come off the bench again this week. Sam McNicol (Chiefs) – Recurrent Concussions – going through the normal protocol could be back this week. Ash Dixon (Highlanders) - Named on the bench after missing last week with a back injury.
Adam Coleman (Rebels) - Ruled out of Rd 4 with a bruised sternum. Very likely to play next week. Sekope Kepu (Waratahs) – Suspension, Back Rd 5 after being left at home due to a lack of fitness – apparently also has a small calf tear which ruled him out of Rd 4. Ned Hanigan (Ted Flanigan) (Waratahs) - Cleared from an AC joint injury to play this week. Rob Simmons (Waratahs) - Small quad tear - won't go own tour but should be back for round 5. Mitchell Short (Waratahs) - "Ruptured ACL" in Rd 3 on debut, was gone for the season. UPDATE: The Tahs got it wrong, he will start this week, it was only minor ligament damage! Ruan Smith (Reds) - Left the Sunwolves on compassionate leave when his mum felt ill. After training for a few weeks with the Reds he has now signed alongside his twin brother. Don't expect him to get any game time though.
Jean-Luc du Preez (Sharks) – Ankle inj in Currie Cup final – in the Australasia tour squad. Pieter-Steph du Toit (Stormers) – Concussion from a Mo'unga hit in Rd 3 & then missed last week with illness. Cobus Wiese (Stormers) - Shoulder injury in Rd 3, cleared to play Rd 5. Sergeal Petersen (Stormers) - Injured his MCL (knee) up for Western Province & has been sidelined for four months. Burger Odendaal (Bulls) - Withdrawn pregame Rd 3 because of a rib injury. Unexpectedly missed Rd 4 even though he was on tour. Should surely play Rd 5. Leonardo Senatore (Jaguares) - Concussion in Rd 2, should be back. Ramiro Moyano (Jaguares) - Tore his hamstring after Rd 1. Trained normally on the Tuesday morning then had pain in the afternoon. Scans then showed he had a tear. Didn't play in Rd 3 but likely to play Rd 5 if selected... Jerónimo de la Fuente (Jaguares) – Had a muscle tear – was said to likely be back after rd 3. Sounds like he was running in training in some capacity two weeks ago.
[getty src="847750754" width="396" height="594" tld="com.au"] Brodie Retallick is about to tackle Steven Kits-off (sorry I couldn't resist!).
Ongoing Injury List:
NEW ZEALAND Highlanders Richard Buckman – Aggravated an old neck injury – The medical team has said they will let the injury settle until after Rd 4 and then reassess him. James Lentjes – Shoulder injury in last preseason game – back in April Thomas Umaga-Jensen - Shoulder injury. Dan Pryor - Hamstring injury.
Hurricanes Dane Coles – ACL Start of December, return in “4-6 months” so probably getting a synthetic LARS graft. These have higher rupture rates. So he has a higher risk of reinjury and will probably be undercooked on return. AVOID. Nehe Milner-Skudder – Shoulder reconstruction – Back in May. Wes Goosen - Came off with an ankle injury. Could be out 3-4 weeks. Jeffery Toomaga-Allen - Hamstring Injury, playing in the Hurricanes development game during the Rd 5 bye. Alex Fidow - Injured against the Jaguares, not sure what he has done. Toby Smith - Came off for a blood bin in Rd 2 but did not return. Chris Boyd was "Not sure" if he would play in Rd 3 (he didn't), so we expect him back this week.
Chiefs Chiefs All Blacks all to miss the may 20th game against the Sharks while in camp. Mitchell Graham – Out for first 6 weeks, had screws removed from old leg fracture operation Toni Pulu - Doesn't look to have been injured before February 21st but never the less he did not play in the chiefs trial games. Nepo Laulala - Fractured left forearm requiring surgery. Out for 8-12 weeks (30th April to 28th May). Dominic Bird - Came off with a shoulder and had his arm in a sling. Waiting to see if he needs surgery which would rule him out for the season. Charlie Ngatai - Medial knee ligament. The coach expects him back for Rd 7! Kane Hames - Still no more info about his "mystery illness". Shaun Stevenson – Injured his knee in the Rd 3 pregame warm up. UPDATE before Rd 6 - Still getting his knee assessed as to whether or not he'll require a quick tidy-up operation (four to five weeks recovery) or be out longer term. Crusaders Owen Franks – Achilles rupture in September for NZ- Targeting 21st April (Rd 10) Israel Dagg – Knee Injury from 2017. Targeting 21st April Rd 10 Joe Moody – Shoulder injury – Targeting 21st April Rd 10 Kieran Read - Coming back from 2017 back surgery he is tipped to play in Rd 10 after their bye. Richie Mo'unga - Broken jaw which required surgery. Should be out for 6-8 weeks (Rds 10-11). Pete Samu - Came off in Rd 3 with a shoulder injury. He is expected to miss two weeks, back Rd 6.
Blues Blake Gibson – Shoulder injury, Likely still 7 weeks away (7/3/18) so roughly round 11. Dalton Papali’i – Ruled out for six weeks with a hand fracture. Potentially back Rd 7 against the Sharks. Matt Moulds – Knee Kara Pryor – Ankle Isaac Salmon – Elbow Glenn Preston - Limped off with a calf tear. Likely back after the bye to play Rd 7. Augustine Pulu - Came off with a foot injury. Expected to be out for 5-6 weeks which puts his return around Rds 9-10.
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AUSTRALIA Waratahs Jack Dempsey – Hamstring Injury – Back week 9 Cameron Clarke – Torn Hamstring in Brizzy 10s, in doubt for Rd 1, Likely Rd 4-5 Nick Phipps – Calf injury Feb 7th, Due back after their bye to play the Brumbies in Rd 7.
Brumbies David Pocock – Knee Op – Back Rd 7. Rob Valentini - Medial ligament (knee) injury - Had surgery 28th Feb. Hopefully 6-8weeks. Could be gone for 12 weeks! This would have his comeback date set at Round 14 away to the Lions.
Reds Karmichael Hunt – Cleared from his Cocaine trial – Doesn’t look like he will come straight back into the side though and there are rumours he will head overseas. Stay away for now! George Smith – Back surgery – back April 7th against Brumbies In Rd 8 Quade Cooper – unwanted by reds but still contracted – unlikely to see him play this season. Izaia Perese – Partially torn his ACL against their trial against Fiji. Hopefully back for round 8 at the earliest. Beware, rehab times for partial ACL’s are not an exact science! Scott Higginbotham - Red carded for his shoulder to the head. Copped a 3 game ban so we should see him by round 6. UPDATE he has been taken on the tour to play in Rd 6. Lukhan Tui - Tip tackle on Genia and then drove him into the ground. Copped a 3 game ban (back Rd 6). UPDATE: didn't go on tour so won't play until Rd 7. Andrew Ready - It looks like he too has been sent back to play and train with club footy.
Rebels Nil
[getty src="926211300" width="594" height="408" tld="com.au"] Scott Higginbotham should play in Rd 6. SOUTH AFRICA Sharks Leolin Zas – Not coming back well from injury – flown to Switzerland to try and get better. Dan Du Preez – Shoulder ligament injury in Rd 1. Meant to be reassessed for round 5 but now will miss the Australasian tour. Expected back Rd 9. Philip van der Walt - Ankle ligament sprain before Rd 3, will miss the Australasian tour. Maybe back Rd 9. Jeremy Ward - Not on tour, will miss the Australasian tour so out until at least Rd 9. Michael Claassens - Not on tour, will miss the Australasian tour so out until at least Rd 9.
Stormers Scarra Ntubeni – Hamstring injury in preseason. Back in full training. Frans Malherbe – Neck Injury – no return date set (as of 15th Feb) – at least missing until after the tour (Rd 5) but making "good progress". Back in full training. Jean-Luc du Plessis – Groin operation on Dec 1st. Now back into full training and should be available within the next couple of weeks (7/3/18). Back in full training. Eben Etzebeth – Shoulder Injury, Back around 18th May last year. Maybe back by Rd 11 but said be making "good progress". Bongi Mbonambi – Burst appendix before Rd 1 – was expected to play Rd 5 but he has had a further operation and now won't be able to train for another 3 months! This means we might see him from early June at the earliest. JD Schickerling - Suffered a torn pectoral muscle against the Crusaders, has been flown home from the tour. Out for four months (Early July). Daniel du Plessis – Shoulder Injury – Has now being cleared to play in Rd 5 but will comeback via the western province side. Dan Kriel - Playing Western Province this week coming back from his foot injury. Jano Vermaak - Playing Western Province this week coming back from his knee injury. Ali Vermaak - Back in full training. Juarno Augustus - progressing well from a long term injury. Seabelo Senatla (Stormers) - Tore his groin in round 3. Out for six weeks.
Lions Courtnall Skosan – ACL in January – Originally gone until start of July/Aug at earliest – now saying ~10weeks so could be back mid April. This only works if they are planning on not reconstructing his ACL, which is a huge risk in rugby union. Avoid him like the plague! Ruan Combrinck – Shoulder surgery – return Mid April
Bulls Ruan Steenkamp – Knee – back mid feb? Jamba Ulengo – Ongoing Patella Tendon issue- Had a small operation in Sweden and now expected to be out for 8 weeks (16th April). This would be Rd 10 after their bye. Jannes Kirsten – Played the final on his injury comeback, won’t be available until Rd 3. Mitchell said he wanted him to get his fitness right so probably won't stop. Franco Naude – Undergone shoulder surgery and will be out for four months from Rd 2 - Roughly Rd 15.
ARGENTINA/JAPAN Jaguares Tomás Cubelli – Fractured neck vertebra, back end of april/start of may Matías Moroni – Shoulder operation – back early april?
Sunwolves Kenki Fukuoka – Injured for 4 weeks – Recovering from knee surgery. Yu Tamura - Left knee meniscal tear. no word on a return date but apparently some published photos showed him running in training before Rd 3. Shinya Makabe - Sprained ankle. No word on a return date. Wimpie Van Der Walt - Groin pain - being managed. Gerhard Van Den Heever - Groin pain - being managed. Hosea Saumaki - Twisted his knee in training before Rd 3. Looks minor so should be back soon. Jaba Bregvadeze - Knee injury Rd 2. Not going on tour. Should play Rd 6. Jason Emery - Surgery for a broken thumb on Thursday 1st March out for 8-10 weeks. Tim Lafaele - Concussion, will go through the protocols to play but isn't on tour, wont play until Rd 6. Akihito Yamada - Concussion, will go through the protocols to play but isn't on tour, wont play until Rd 6. Hayden Parker - Hamstring tear/ knee injury? I'm hearing different things. Isn't on tour, wont play until Rd 6. Sam Wykes - "Severe concussion", will go through the protocols to play but isn't on tour, wont play until Rd 6. OUT FOR THE SEASON:
Otere Black (Blues) – ACL reconstruction Reggie Goodes (Hurricanes) – Retired due to concussion Tim Nanai-Williams (Chiefs) – Injured shoulder in final trial against Brumbies – having surgery and will be out for the season. Atu Moli (Chiefs) - Had a complication with a quad haematoma which required surgery. Ruled out for the season.
Nick Frisby (Reds) – His services will not be needed. Markus Vanzati (Reds) – His services will not be needed. Ben McCalman (Waratahs) – 4th Fractured Scapula (Shoulder blade) in 2 years, Waratahs want a medical before signing him. Looks like they didn't end up signing him.
Coenie Oosthuizen (Sharks) – ACL reconstruction Jaco Kriel (Lions) – Off season shoulder op – was expected back for Rd 4 but reinjured his shoulder, is having ANOTHER operation and is expected out for a further six months! Looks like he is done for the season. Rudy Paige (Bulls) – cut from the squad Enrique Pieretto (Jaguares) – ACL Reconstruction
Have we missed something? Drop a comment or tweet and let us know.
Written by Harrison Dale